Folsom firefighters contained a mobile home fire within eight minutes Saturday morning, protecting a neighboring home in what became the first major test for a recently restored engine company.
The Sacramento Regional Fire Emergency Communication Center (SRFECC) dispatched crews to the 600 block of Parkstone Way at 8:35 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, after receiving reports of a structure fire, the Folsom Times first reported.
Engine 36 arrived first and found a double-wide mobile home with heavy fire involvement. The fire appeared to have started in the backyard before spreading into the living room and adjacent bedrooms, according to the Folsom Fire Department. Flames and heat immediately threatened a neighboring residence.
Engine 39 arrived second. Its three-person crew established a water supply, knocked down exterior flames, deployed a hose line between the two structures and assumed command of the incident, the Folsom Fire Department said.
The engine had been out of service for roughly 10 months before the city reinstated it Sept. 6 as part of a new staffing model. Saturday's fire marked one of its first significant structural responses since returning to duty.
Crews brought the blaze under control within eight minutes of arrival and limited damage to about 40 percent of the home's living space. A primary search confirmed no one was inside.
No firefighter injuries were reported.
"Engine 39 was reinstated just a few weeks ago and we are already seeing the benefits," Folsom Fire Department Public Information Officer Nick Lawlor said. "That crew provided vital water supply connections, deployed a line between the structures, and handled command functions."
Lawlor credited the first two engine companies with an aggressive attack that prevented a complete loss of the primary structure and protected neighboring homes. He also thanked the Sacramento Metro Fire District and the Folsom Police Department for assisting during the response.
The reinstatement of Engine 39 strengthened coverage across the Empire Ranch area on Folsom's east side. The move was tied to the department's inaugural Single-Role EMT and Paramedic Program, which brought 14 new members on board to staff ambulances and free up firefighters for engine duty. Fire Chief Jason Solak called the restoration "a win for our community" in the city's Sept. 8 announcement of the program.
Preliminary evidence indicated an exterior electrical hazard may have caused the fire, according to the department. Arson investigators were still working to determine the official cause as of Saturday.
After the fire was controlled, crews remained on scene to extinguish hot spots and conduct overhaul operations. Residents with information about the fire can contact the Folsom Fire Department.







